Director of Programmes at SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda (Deadline:10th November 2021)

Programme Development

• Leads the development of strategic directions in Programme Development at national level, framed by the SOS Care Promise and other related policies. This means to take action through one integrated programme of child development in a caring family environment (families of origin; SOS family care, other alternative care options) and through programme interventions (direct essential services; capacity building in the fields of care, education and health)
• Leads the processes of national child rights situation analyses and of feasibility studies at location level
• Ensures the development of qualitative SOS Children’s Village programme proposals and steers the implementation to reach the strategic targets.
•  Steers the development of new locations and alignment of existing locations following the SOS Care Promise.
•  Participates in the strategic and annual planning process as member of the National Management Team.
• Supports the budgeting process and reviews the SOS CV programme budgets on location level.
• Prepares and is responsible for the budget of the national Programme Development Department.

Quality Management, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensures implementation of quality standards within SOS Children’s Village Programmes as described in manuals, policies and concepts such as the SOS care Promise, SOS gatekeeping guidelines, Quality4Children standards, the Family Strengthening Manual, and other future SOS CVI manuals, policies and concepts (in all fields of SOS Children’s Village Programme responses and activities).
• Provides ongoing monitoring of child’s rights protection in the Member Association.
•  Ensures implementation of all existing and future SOS CVI policies in the area of programme development.
• Ensures implementation of a Quality Assurance system (including monitoring and evaluation)
• Adjusts all ongoing programmes to national legal regulations in agreement with the National Director.
• Ensures the development of national concepts according to SOS CVI policies and SOS CVI programme quality standards.

 Human Resources Development

•  Is responsible for performance management of the staff of the Programme Development Department.
• Leads the onboarding process of members of the National Programme Development Department.
• Ensures that professional and developmental objectives are set up. Works out individual development plans in cooperation with subordinates.
• Supports and provides coaching in the realisation of the set objectives.
• Monitors objective achievement.
• Conducts Performance Appraisal Talks.
• Ensures support in recruitment and selection process of leading programme development co-workers in SOS Children’s Village programme locations through national PD Advisors.
• Ensures that national SI Advisors content wise advise programme unit managers on location level.
• Ensures organisation of initial and ongoing training for key SOS Children’s Villages Programme staff and Programme Development Department staff

 Research and Knowledge Management

• Coordinates all research activities in the programme development area in the Member Association.
• Cooperates with governmental and non-governmental organisations carrying out research on child and family care.
• Takes responsibility for the Member Association’s participation in international research projects within SOS CVI.

 Institutional partnership building and projects management

• Contributes in the proposal development process and be the link between program, finance and IPD to ensure quality programme content
• Coordinate, monitor and assess the quality of approved projects implementation
• Monitors national activities (of the state and of key NGOs) and planned future developments in the social welfare sector, protection of child’s rights as well as gaps in child rights fulfilment by the state.
• Develops and maintains contacts, exchanges information and develops partnerships with key stakeholders of the child welfare sector (state, NGOs, INGOs and GOs)
• Supports in ensuring effective communication with IO, IOR and PSAs

Required experience and qualification:

•  A postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject area, e.g. development studies, project management, business administration public policy & planning, social sciences, etc.
•   At least 10 years of work experience in the development field.
•   Proven leadership and people management skills, with at least 5 years’ management experience.
•  Expertise in implementing programme Quality Management Systems.
•  Positive and professional approach. Ability to work independently, self-organise, use initiative, fulfil commitments and meet deadlines.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including written and spoken English and the ability to communicate at multiple levels in the organisation.
• Well-developed facilitation, group leadership and presentation skills.
• Ability to develop proposals, concept papers, guidelines and tools, and oversee their implementation.
• Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
• Able and willing to travel within the region and sometimes continentally or internationally.
•  A team player who is culturally astute, respectful and tolerant.

Competencies:

•  Knowledge of social development issues, such as children’s rights, HIV/AIDS, OVC and gender.
• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-site organisation with a matrix structure and a geographically dispersed team.
•  Work experience in programmes that build self-reliance and sustainability at the family and/or community level.